Simply hard...

Sometimes when the reality of pioneering a ranch hits me straight in the face like a steel shovel, and my heart aches for normal, and wifi, and a landline phone, and a bathroom bigger than half a normal closet, and not having to load 7 people up on a four wheeler to go the top of the mountain for a normal shower just to find out you are out of propane and you have to take a cold shower with kids SCREAMING, and your refrigerator the size of a dorm refrigerator that was just filled for the 3 days you can fill it with-stops working, and the never ending ranch dirt, and county's making everything nearly impossible, and......need I go on. 

I sit in the parking lot of my little country town, with my new escalade filled with 5 gas cans I need to fill up with gas and take back to the ranch and I steal their wifi and check in with my challengers and eat a Twix and CRY.

Why?!? Cause {DREAM CATCHING} is freaking hard work and most days I just want to quit and complain and quit again for NORMAL. I want to curl up in a fetal position and protest "NO MORE" to my husband...and then it hits hard. That steal shovel again, right across my face. 

Failure is inevitable, quiting is my choice.  

I begin to grab back core of me, that deep down strength. The one that has gotten me through the past 10 years of fighting and failure and forging towards our dreams. 

One day-when I am sitting in my little farm house and we are training missionaries from around the world...I KNOW it will be worth it. So I fix my eyes on the GOAL-not my circumstances-cause man it is easy to plant yourself as the victim. 

Brush it off, Jen! You've got work to do.

Simply Homemade Chocolate Milk

Because what is a good country breakfast or late night treat without chocolate milk? 

Hershey's was my go-to...for years...and then I learned about labels. Ugh! Corn syrup trying to invade our life at every can or bottle or box. No Bueno! So I did what I do best! Got creative and created a simply delicious, better than store bough recipe. Here you go...don't be afraid to try it-be afraid not too ❤️

3 cups raw milk

3 tbsp organic cacao powder

Pure maple syrup to taste. Start with 2 tbsp and go from there.

1/2 tsp pure vanilla or almond extract

A pinch of hymalaian sea salt

Blend until frothy and enjoy! 

Simply Greek Country Pancakes

Whoever came up with cake for breakfast is a hero in my book. Pancakes are a staple here on the ranch. We even set aside one day a week to celebrate their goodness. 

When I was first married, I would make tradition pancakes, loaded with sugar and over the counter oils and of course white flour...ugh! But here is the thing with your health journey...baby steps and education are the two most vital things you need to have. Over time, you will be surprised the leaps and bounds you've made over the years! Back to the cake.

I love this recipe for several reasons;

1) It uses whole, healthy, vitamin and mineral loaded ingredients.

2) Greek Yogurt is packed with probiotics.

3) They are soft and fluffy and melt in on your mouth good.

4) Greek Yogurt is the bomb.com

Try it out, you won't be sorry! And this recipe is always Gamble kid tested and approved. They actual prefer this recipe over tranditional pancakes. SCORE! 

3 cups whole wheat flour or spelt 

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp hymalaian sea salt

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract(I always go with the almond)

2 tbsp raw coconut oil

2 tbsp raw honey

3 farm fresh eggs

1 1/2 cup whole or raw milk

1 cup water(add for your perfect consistency!) 

Add all wet ingredients in vitamix or mix until smooth. Add dry ingredients. Sometimes I have to add a little more water or flour to get that perfect consistency. If you like fluffier pancakes, have a thicker batter where a runnier batter will yield a thinner cake. This morning the kids asked for thin-cakes. They are both incredible! 

Slap them on a griddle and serve hot with grassfed butter, pure maple syrup and I always add fresh sliced fruit. I also make some homemade chocolate milk to pair perfectly ;) Recipe can be found in archives. 

Enjoy you "cake" for breakfast. 

Simply Chasing Rainbows

✨Several months ago it was just finishing up raining. I was having a "I want to quit" moment. Nothing made sense. Doors were being slammed in our face. Things seemed so close, yet they had for years. I was done.✨

Cam called me out to see a rainbow. I didn't care that it was one of the most beautiful rainbows I had ever seen, I wanted to curl up into a ball, be a victim and quit. But I went out because, well he made me 😒 It was beautiful and grand and bright! Cam told me to chase it. Hahaha! Why?!? His answer still wrecks me.

✨"Because Jen, if you chase a rainbow long enough, hard enough and passionate enough-you might just catch it"✨

Something inside me stirred. So I did! I jumped on our old Dodge and drove down that old country road. I just HAD to catch that rainbow. I knew it was right there. But I didn't. When I got to the perfect place to take the perfect picture-it had faded😭 upon returning home, Cam asked if I caught it. NOPE(life story!) again he said;

✨Jen, well keep chasing them and one day you will!✨ It was enough to get me through that tough day and through many more tough days. I'll never forget those words he said. 

So this morning as we walked outside and saw the double rainbow, perfectly arched touching our land, both sides. My breathe was taken away. We did it...

🌈We caught a rainbow🌈

Life by Design

✨Life by Design is designed by YOU.✨

8 months ago I took a crazy, out of the ordinary leap of {FAITH}. 8 months ago, I was desperate for things to change, depressed and dying inside...barely breathing. You see,I know what it feels like to have anxiety when checking out of the grocery store. Wondering how we would pay our bills. Buying sale racks and secondhand and only enough to get by, not to {THRIVE} My husband has always worked out of town because what he does, well he can not do it here. He sacrificed ALOT to get where he is today. And the jobs he took locally as he worked hard to establish himself,  he was underpaid and overworked. He is the hardest working man I know and made sure we were taken care of...even though he was just as exhausted as I was.   I stayed home with the kids, homeschooled,  ran our farm, helped with our ministry and was barely surviving...but I did it because I am a {FIGHTER}. 

---------------------------------------------

A {KNOCK} on a door came, an {OPPORTUNITY} to change my circumstances and help give {FREEDOM} to our family. For us to passionately pursue our dreams, keep my husband home more to focus on catching our {DREAM} and allow me to stay at home with the kids, not sacrificing the most beautiful calling of my life-being a wife and Mama to our 5 children. So I {JUMPED}. Nothing else was working and I was desperate enough to try anything. I gave it all I had. I worked {HARD} because nothing in life is free and I learned if I wanted to change my circumstances, I had to stop whining about them and DO something. Even if it was hard. Even when I wanted to quit. Even when I got raised eyebrows. Even when the only person who praised me was my husband. Even when I failed...I KEPT GOING! 

---------------------------------------------

In just 2 months I was able to buy my {DREAM CAR} A safe family SUV for my family to enjoy. Sure beats that farm truck we all squeezed into for 6 months. We sold our family car to be debt free. Sacrifice. In 4 months, I was able to quadruple my income and was earning trips, gifts, recognition and building a Team of IGNITERS that all had the same drive, determination,  motivation and  passion as me. Building {FAMILY} and {COMMUNITY} as we help hundreds of people discovery all they were created to be! Championing and encouraging others. Not to mention get in the best shape of my life. 8 months later still increasing income and the BEST part...our family was able to {CATCH OUR DREAM} because my husband could stay home and focus on our ranch. We worked as a {TEAM} and went for it. 

---------------------------------------------------

So today, I am still a wife of a hero🇺🇸Mama to 5 amazing kiddos👦🏻👧🏻👦🏻👦🏻👶🏻 but I have {LIFE} seeping from me. I have {JOY} I am {HELPING} people. I am a {LEADER} More than I could have ever imagined. I know what it feels like to have life not working out, struggling to put food on the table, questioning WHERE is God and WHAT are we going to do. I get it. We ALL have a story. But I'm here to offer YOU something I was offered...a {CHANCE} to write your OWN story to FIND your story. To create life by {DESIGN} to experience {FREEDOM and PURPOSE}. An opportunity for you to CATCH your DREAMS. 

✨If you are passionate, motivated and driven and love helping people.

✨If you have always heard a gentle but strong whisper in your ear that there is MORE for you.

✨If you are ready to stop wishing but ready start CATCHING your dreams...

I'd love to share more.

 Email me today. Don't wait. Don't second guess yourself. Today is the day your have the chance to change your life! ✨jengamblefitness@gmail.com✨

Simply Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

There is something that makes my tummy smile everytime I walk into a kitchen. Homemade spaghetti sauce simmer on the stovetop! 

Here is a favorite Gamble recipe. You add any variations you like. Easy and enough to make 2 meals! 

1lb grass finished ground beef

1/2 yellow onion 

2 clove crushed fresh garlic

4 cans organic tomato sauce

2 cans organic diced tomatoes

1/2 can organic tomatoe paste

1 cup water

Sea salt and peppercorn to taste

1 tsp Anise seed or 1/2 tsp Fennel

1tbsp basil 

1tbsp oregano 

Brown meat and onions. Drain fat(grass finished shouldnt have a lot) Add all other ingredients and stir! Simmer on stove at least an hour. I do it all day for best flavor. 

Serve over homemade noddles, zoodles or enjoy with a fresh slice of sourdough. 

Enjoy!!

simply, Jen

Homemade Chili Dogs

A family favorite and just plain FUN. There are so many healthy options out their now a days for hot dogs. I always get organic 100% beef dogs . Check labels and ingredients. Non-nitrate is the best. I also use organic honey wheat buns or Killer Daves buns. When we finish building our home, I plan to make mine from scratch. 

Here is a simple recipe for black bean chili. You can use jarred organic black beans or soak your black beans overnight(best and healthiest option) and cook according to directions. 

3 cups cooked black beans

1/2 yellow onion

1 seeded and diced jalapeño 

1 tbsp Cumin

1 crush fresh garlic clove 

Sea salt and peppercorn to taste

Simmer on stove for at least an hour for great flavor. I cook mine for at least a couple. You can also put in the crockpot at lunch and have them ready by dinner! 

Serve over a hotdog and bun and add your favorite fixings. I like onion, rawsauerkraut, mustard and ketchup(no sugar) ENJOY! 

           From the farm to your table.